AN elderly man who suffered from stomach cancer with heart problems was one of two Covid-19 deaths reported in Sarawak today.

Both the deaths were from Sibu, the state’s hardest-hit town. Their deaths raised the state’s tally to 99.

The state disaster management committee said the 71-year-old man was rushed to the Sibu hospital last Wednesday to seek treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding.

He was screened for the virus and had tested positive. His health deteriorated and he died yesterday.

The other Covid-19 death reported today was that of a 69-year-old woman who fell unconscious at her home last Thursday.

An emergency response team that rushed to her home declared that she was already dead and brought her body to the Sibu hospital for a post-mortem.

An rT-PCR test conducted two days later found she was positive for Covid-19.

Sarawak reported 140 new cases today with Miri having the most number at 52.

Sibu was next with 36, Bintulu (27), Samarahan (five), Kapit, Sarikei and Julau (three each), Kuching, Mukah, Limbang, Betong (two each), with Bau, Bukit Mabong and Meradong one each.

The disaster committee also said the state Health Department had declared three clusters – Nanga Lijan in Julau, Univista in Samarahan and Kidurong Dua in Bintulu – have ended after there were no cases reported in the last 28 days.

The number of active clusters is now down to 31 with nine of them reporting new cases today. – March 23, 2021.